Engagement in physical activity among African American women caregivers: a cross-sectional study

Family caregivers and African Americans often do not achieve the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. Factors associated with engaging in physical activity among African American caregivers have not been systematically examined. This cross-sectional study examined how contextual factors were associated with meeting the recommended amount of physical activity among African American women caregivers. We used a population-based sample of 1,478 African American women caregivers in the U.S. from the 2015, 2017, and 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We used survey-weighted multivariate regression analyses to examine associations between condition-specific factors, physical and social environment, and individual and family factors and meeting the national aerobic physical activity guideline (i.e., participating in 150 minutes (or vigorous equivalent minutes) of physical activity per week). Over half (53.9%) of African American women caregivers in the U.S. did not meet the guideline. Being age 65 years or older was associated with decreased odds of meeting the guideline compared to being between the ages of 25-44 years (OR = 0.50, 95% CI[0.26-0.99]). Compared to college graduates, women with partial college education had higher odds of meeting the guideline (OR = 2.08, 95%CI[1.24-3.51]). Having health insurance was associated with increased odds of meeting the guideline (OR = 2.28, 95%CI[1.12-4.63]). Our findings suggest several contextual factors are independently associated with meeting the national guideline. Understanding the relationships between contextual factors and engaging in physical activity among African American women caregivers can inform interventions aimed at protecting and promoting the health of these women.